The village of Kupani, also known as Khupani in ancient documents, is located 12 versts from the district town and 135 versts from the provincial capital. In 1518, the village along with the surrounding villages was transferred to the Trinity-Sergius Monastery, and after the abolition of monastic lands in 1764, it became state property.

The church in the village has existed for a long time. A hundred record from 1563 mentions a church in the name of John the Theologian, and the land books of 1593 speak of a church with a Deesis, royal doors, local icons, vestments, books, and an iron bell, built with the funds of parishioners. The land books of 1628 and 1629 also list a wooden church of the same name, but already built with monastic funds. The census books of 1678 mention a church with the same name. The wooden church of John the Theologian was in Kupani at the end of the 18th century.

Until 1782, there was another wooden church dedicated to Saint Barbara, as indicated in the church foundation charter by Bishop Theophilact of Pereslavl. It was planned to build a new church to replace the old one, but the construction was not carried out.

In 1814, a stone two-story church was built with the funds of parishioners, which still exists today. The upper floor has an altar in honor of the Holy Apostle John the Theologian, and the lower floor, in honor of Saint Barbara. The church is well supplied with church utensils, a vestment room, holy icons, and liturgical books. The icon of Saint Barbara is especially venerated, which, according to tradition, appeared at the well where the chapel now stands. Church documents, including copies of metric books from 1795 and confession lists from 1825, are preserved intact.

The clergy staff includes a priest and a psalmist. Their maintenance is ensured by income from arable and haymaking land, 100 rubles from services and needs, 370 rubles from bread collection, totaling 410 rubles per year. The priest has a church house.

The church land includes a homestead area of 1652 square fathoms, haymaking land of 7 desyatinas 1174 fathoms, arable land of 33 desyatinas 563 fathoms, and unfit land of 563 fathoms. There is a plan and boundary book for this land. The parish consists of the village and the village of Khmelnikov, where the clerical records list 351 men and 384 women, all Orthodox. There is a church-parish school operating in the village of Kupani.